Glasgow bodies agree on ‘friendly city’ marque

For the first time ever Glasgow’s major promotional bodies are all backing the same city marque, designed by local group Wright Design. Each had previously traded under a separate logo.

The city council has drawn up outline plans for the logo’s implementation in conjunction with the Greater Glasgow and Clyde tourist board and the Glasgow Development Agency.

The logo, straplined “Glasgow – the friendly city”, is the latest in a series stretching back over a decade and was piloted at the Rotary International Convention in the summer (DW 3 October).

“It got a great response from the public and from the conference delegates who agreed that Glasgow was a friendly city,” says Glasgow City Council chief marketing officer Carol Matthews.

She wants the logo to be adopted by as many local organisations as possible. “Our main targets are local businesses, hotels and government agencies. We will also encourage taxis, shops and restaurants to put a logo sticker in their windows,” she says.

The logo has just been installed at Glasgow airport and on three development site boards.

Between now and the tourist season next year, departments within the council will be briefed on how they can use the logo, says Matthews.

Meanwhile, Wolff Olins has come up with a broad set of recommendations for CityVision, the body responsible for rebranding Hull. The city is at a much earlier stage than Glasgow, with a logo not due for another year.

Wolff Olins project consultant Aidan Kirby says Hull should play up its communications network and pioneering spirit and do something about the E20 road “eyesore”. He points to the city’s 700th anniversary in 1999 as a marvellous promotional opportunity and says there is a need to create a number of flagship sites.

CityVision is recruiting a senior executive to manage the finer details of the project, to be drawn up in the new year. This will include design elements.